Young guns in Australian athletics squad

World and Olympic hurdles champion Sally Pearson will have at least three other super-quick female compatriots for company at the world athletics championships in Beijing.

Team captain Pearson headlines the first batch of 26 athletes named by Athletics Australia to contest the August 22-30 championships at the iconic Bird's Nest Stadium in Beijing - the central venue for the 2008 Olympics.

Competing alongside Pearson in the 100m hurdles will be fast-improving Michelle Jenneke, who smashed her personal best twice in the space of two hours at last weekend's national championships in Brisbane to rocket to second spot on the Australian alltime list.

National record holder Melissa Breen confirmed her spot in the team in impressive style, winning the 100m national title in 11.26 seconds.

Australia will also be represented in the women's 200m at the world championships after 20-year-old Ella Nelson smashed her personal best with a time of 23.04 in Brisbane.

Jenneke and Breen have both spoken about drawing inspiration from Pearson's exploits, while Nelson's 200m victory over the champion Queenslander at last month's Sydney Track Classic was a significant career breakthrough.

But Australia still seem unlikely to be represented in the women's 4x100m relay in Beijing as Pearson and Breen have not committed to the qualifying campaign, preferring to prioritise their individual events.

The initial 26-strong Australian squad also includes multiple world and Olympic walking medallist Jared Tallent, 2013 javelin world championships silver medallist Kim Mickle and Dani Samuels, who won gold in the discus at the 2009 world titles in Berlin.

Consistent distance runner Eloise Wellings has been selected in the 5000m, conditional to her recent performance in a mixed race being ratified by the IAAF.

More athletes can be added to the squad until the final cut-off date on August 10.